RESEARCH HUB International Multidisciplinary Research Journal

Eco-Tourism Practices for Sustainable Development in Himachal Pradesh

Sandeep Kumar — 2025-10-15

Himachal Pradesh is a state blessed with stunning natural beauty, featuring majestic mountains, perennial rivers, picturesque valleys, and a rich cultural heritage. Tourism serves as the second leading source of income, after agriculture. Visitors flock to the hill stations to escape the heat of the plains and rejuvenate before returning to their routines. Mountains provide a variety of adventure activities including trekking, hiking, and camping, allowing individuals to connect with nature. Many seek inner peace and happiness in these serene landscapes. However, it is crucial to prioritize the conservation of the environment, preservation of local culture, and enhancement of the region’s economy. This paper reviews existing studies and emphasizes the eco-tourism practices in Himachal Pradesh.

Educational Inequality among Street Children in Metropolitan India: Assessing the Impact of NEP 2020

Dev Kapil — 2025-10-15

This paper critically investigates educational inequality among street children in major metropolitan centers of India, focusing on the effects of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Through qualitative and quantitative analysis—including interviews with urban street children and data from non-governmental organizations—the research highlights persistent barriers to educational access, compounded by socio-economic precarity and urban displacement. Although NEP 2020 aspires for universal and inclusive education, its rapid push towards digital learning has inadvertently exacerbated the digital divide among street children, who lack devices, connectivity, and stable learning environments. The study finds that new digital platforms and flexible curriculum models have had limited reach without comprehensive social support and grassroots outreach. The research concludes that true educational inclusion for metropolitan street children requires not only digital solutions but also dedicated policy interventions addressing basic welfare, community-based educational outreach, and access to physical and psychological support systems. These findings call for a nuanced, multi-sectoral effort to realize the inclusive aims of NEP 2020 for India’s most marginalized urban youth.

From Commons to Reserves: Colonial Forestry, Agrarian Change, and Political Ecology in the Shimla Hill States, 1860–1947

Lekh Raj Sharma — 2025-10-15

This paper reconstructs the environmental and political economy of the Shimla Hill States under British paramountcy, arguing that “scientific forestry,” revenue rationalization, and infrastructural integration transformed a landscape of commons into a landscape of reserves and permits. From the 1860s to the 1940s, working plans, demarcation, and lease arrangements converted customary rights of grazing, lopping, fuelwood, and timber into state-regulated privileges, monetizing access while elevating forest revenues as fiscal anchors of princely rule. These changes, paired with road-building and the Kalka–Shimla rail link, knit the hills to imperial markets, amplified extraction, and reconfigured agrarian livelihoods. Although horticulture—iconically the apple economy initiated in Kotgarh—promised a new equilibrium, it depended on the same infrastructures and rules that marginalized many smallholders. The social effects were uneven: rural stratification sharpened; women’s labor in forest collection became more precarious; and transhumant herders encountered criminalization. Yet these material pressures also fostered political mobilization. Praja Mandals in Sirmour, Bushahr, and other states linked forest restrictions and begar to civil liberties, forging a political ecology that helped steer integration into democratic India after 1947. Drawing on environmental and legal history (Guha; Sivaramakrishnan; Rangarajan), on studies of princely governance (Ramusack; Copland), and on Himalayan agrarian ecologies (Chetan Singh), the paper argues that indirect rule at altitude made forests legible to the state and, paradoxically, made the state legible to its subjects.

Negotiating Authority and Identity: The Political Mobilization of Gaddi Shepherds in Himachal Pradesh (1947–Present)

Ram Thakru — 2025-10-15

This paper examines the evolving political mobilization of the Gaddi community, one of the prominent transhumant pastoral groups of Himachal Pradesh, from the time of India’s independence in 1947 to the present. It argues that the Gaddi political journey represents a continuous process of negotiation—between state authority, defined largely through forest and revenue bureaucracies, and the community’s own assertion of a distinct hill identity within the democratic order. Historically marginalized under the restrictive forest policies of the colonial regime, the Gaddis’ post-independence experience reflects a gradual shift from localized resistance over grazing rights to organized political participation. The study highlights two major arenas of this transformation. The first is the bureaucratic–ecological conflict, shaped by the tension between customary grazing claims (wazib-ul-arz) and modern conservation frameworks. The second concerns the democratic assertion of identity, wherein the recognition of the Gaddis as a Scheduled Tribe in 1956 became a crucial political resource. This status facilitated the emergence of local leadership, community associations, and a visible presence in state politics, particularly in Chamba and Kangra districts. The paper further argues that the Gaddi political identity has been both inclusive and contested. While the public image of a unified, Shiva-worshipping Gaddi community has served as an effective tool for political representation and reservation benefits, internal divisions—especially between traditional pastoralists and an increasingly educated elite—have complicated this unity. The Gaddi experience thus offers valuable insight into how historically nomadic groups transform ecological struggles into political capital, illustrating broader patterns of tribe–state relations and democratic adaptation in contemporary South Asia.

A Study on Opinion of General Public over Mukhyamantri Mazi Ladki Bahin Yojya with reference to Nagpur City

Pragati Richa Pandey — 2025-10-15

The Government of Maharashtra for the wellbeing of women introduced the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana for needy and poor women. The scheme is based on the objective of making women financial empowered by providing financial assistance of Rs. 1,500 per month. The benefits of the scheme is restricted to the women having annual family income below Rs. 2,50,000 and their age ranging from 18 years to 60 years. As per this scheme the eligible women get financial support to meet their daily expenses, healthcare facilities, education and personal expenses. The main objective of study is to know the scheme fully and also see the impact of the scheme on women of Maharashtra as well as to study the limitation of the scheme. This study is based on the 233 respondents selected randomly of Nagpur city who are the direct beneficiaries as well as non-beneficiaries. The primary data is collected from structured questionnaire, personal interviews and discussion with the respondents. The study is also based on the secondary data which has collected from the newspapers, online news, published research, Government websites etc. This research paper tried to cover all the parameter of the scheme and throw the light on opinions of the respondent about the scheme. In this paper the actual position of women like financial independency, financial empowerment, changes in financial status, undue advantages of scheme taken by some women, increasing the debts on state and effect on scheme on political party etc. are covered.

A Study on Investment Willingness of Small Income Salaried Class over Investment in Mutual Funds and SIP

Vishal N. Thangan — 2025-10-15

The present study is based on the investment willingness of the small income salaried class people and its investment habit as well as their willingness to invest in mutual funds and SIP. In today’s era the mutual funds and SIP have emerge as new investment tools particularly for small income class of people. Mutual funds and SIP provide the chance to invest in equities and debts of big stock where individual investors of small income group cannot invest. Mutual funds are available in various types as per the need of the investors and SIP provides the chance to invest a minimum amount per month regularly to buy a part of stock every month. Mutual funds and SIP are giving high returns to the investors and also provide the chance to earn maximum profit out of its dealing. Apart from these features the class of small income salaried people is mostly unaware about this and not willing to invest their money in mutual funds and SIP. The small income salaried class people are not getting fullest information about the mutual funds operation and its function hence they are not ready and willing to invest their money in it. They are also not risk takers hence they are willingly opts out mutual funds and SIP from their list of investment. They are giving preference to the traditional investment tools as investment options over the mutual funds and SIP due to the formalities and risk involved in it. The present study is aim to throw the light on the willingness and preferences of small income salaried class over the mutual funds and SIP as investment tools. This paper will be useful to understand the reasons of small income salaried class for not investing their money in mutual funds and SIP. Similarly, this paper is also focus on the efforts required from the mutual fund agents and mutual funds companies to attract more and more small income salaried class people.

Exercise of Judicial Power by the Commissioner under the Income Tax Act- Whether unconstitutional?

Sanjay Bansal — 2025-10-15

The doctrine of separation of powers amongst the three organs of the State in a democratic set-up namely, the legislature, the judicially and the executive, which is a basic feature of the Constitution of India, is the basis of the view expressed in this paper demonstrating that the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961 which confer appellate and revisional jurisdiction on the Commissioner essentially a departmental officer is Constitutionally invalid. The appellate and revisional jurisdiction conferred on the Commissioner under the Act is a quasi-judicial power which has to be exercised impartially, and in the absence thereof is being exercised by the departmental officer in the rank of the Commissioner contrary to the principles of natural justice on account of departmental bias being one of the facets of the said principle which is a part and parcel of the Article 14 of the Constitution of India. Should the appellate and revisional jurisdiction be withdrawn from the Commissioner and conferred upon an independent body, which is not a part and parcel of the executive organ of the government, is the question which needs deliberation keeping in view the judgments rendered by the Hon'ble Supreme Court especially in the case of Madras Bar Associations Vs. Union of India.

Social-Economic and Cultural Aspects of the Thar Region of Rajasthan

Suman Panwar — 2025-10-15

The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, occupies nearly two-thirds of western Rajasthan and stands as one of India’s most distinctive ecological, geographical, and cultural regions. Spanning the districts of Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner, Jodhpur, and Jalore, the Thar is characterized by its extreme climatic conditions, scarce rainfall, sandy terrain, and fragile ecosystem. Yet, in this seemingly inhospitable environment, human civilization has not only sustained itself for centuries but has flourished through exceptional adaptability, community cohesion and cultural creativity. Economically, the region has transitioned from traditional subsistence activities to modern sectors such as tourism, renewable energy, and handicrafts, reflecting a gradual yet significant transformation in livelihood patterns. Culturally, the Thar embodies Rajasthan’s artistic soul—its folk music, dance, crafts, attire and oral traditions serve as living archives of identity and heritage. Ultimately, this research reveals that the Thar Desert is not merely a barren landscape but a dynamic human and cultural ecosystem, where resilience and tradition harmonize with change and innovation.

A Study on the Effects of Circuit Training and Swiss Ball Training on Balance

Arpana Bhagwanbhai Thakkar — 2025-10-15

The purpose of this research study was to examine the effects of circuit training and Swiss ball training on balance. For this study, a total of 150 women who exercised at gyms in Gandhinagar city were selected as participants. Women between the ages of 18 and 30 were chosen for the study. The participants were divided into three groups—50 in the circuit training group, 50 in the Swiss ball training group, and 50 in the control group. Balance was measured using the Standing Balance Test as the standard of assessment. The collected data from the two experimental groups and one control group were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and the differences between the means were tested for significance using the LSD post-hoc test at the 0.05 level. The results indicated that a systematic 12-week program of circuit training and Swiss ball training led to a significant improvement in the participants’ balance.

Abstract in Gujarati Language: આ સંશોધન અભ્યાસનો હેતુ ચક્રિય તાલીમ અને સ્વિસબોલ તાલીમના સમતોલન પર થતી અસરોનો અભ્યાસ કર્યો હતો. આ સંશોધન અભ્યાસમાં ગાંધીનગર શહેરના જિમ્નેશિયમમાં કસરત કરનારી કુલ 150 જેટલા બહેનોને વિષયપાત્રોને તરીકે પસંદ કરવામાં આવી હતી. આ સંશોધન અભ્યાસમાં 18 થી 30 વર્ષની વયજૂથની બહેનોને પસંદ કરવામાં આવી હતી. આ સંશોધન અભ્યાસમાં વિષયપાત્રોને 50 ચક્રિય તાલીમ જૂથ, 50 સ્વિસ બોલ તાલીમ અને 50 નિયંત્રિણ જૂથ એમ ત્રણ જૂથમાં વિભાજીત કરવામાં આવ્યા હતા. માપનના ધોરણમાં સમતોલનનું માપન સ્ટેન્ડિંગ બેલેન્સ ટેસ્ટ દ્વારા કરવામાં આવ્યું હતું. બે પ્રાયોગિક જૂથો અને એક નિયંત્રિત જૂથની પ્રાપ્ત કરેલ માહિતી પર વિચરણ, સહવિચરણ પૃથક્કરણ (ANCOVA) લાગુ પાડી મધ્યકો વચ્ચેના તફાવતોને LSD પોસ્ટ હોક કસોટી લાગુ પાડી 0.05 કક્ષાએ સાર્થકતા ચકાસવામાં આવી હતી. જેનું તારણ આ પ્રમાણે જોવા મળ્યું હતું. પદ્ધત્તિસરના 12 અઠવાડિયાના ચક્રિય તાલીમ અને સ્વિસ બોલ તાલીમ કાર્યક્રમથી પસંદ થતા વિષયપાત્રોની સમતોલનમાં નોંધપાત્ર સુધારો જોવા મળ્યો હતો.

Keywords: ચક્રિય તાલીમ, સર્વાંગી વિકાસ, ઝડપ, સહનશક્તિ, લવચીકતા